Weather Service warns of fire threat this afternoon

Low humidities and winds of 15 to 20 mph have increased the threat of wildfires.

Residents of East Tennessee and southwestern North Carolina are discouraged from burning this afternoon due to the increased potential for fire growth and spread, the National Weather Service said in a special weather statement.

Aternoon relative humidities were to fall into the 20 to 30 percent range and there are westerly winds of 15 to 20 mph with higher gusts in the highest terrain, the Weather Service said.